French man charged in alleged incest case involving his daughters

Saturday 01 - 17:30

By: Sahili Aya

French man charged in alleged incest case involving his daughters

A 48-year-old man from the Aude department in southern France has been formally charged and placed in pretrial detention as part of an investigation into allegations of rape and sexual assault involving his daughters, French prosecutors have confirmed.

The case began after the eldest daughter, now 18, filed a complaint with the gendarmerie, accusing her father of sexually assaulting her and alleging that two of her younger sisters, currently aged 15 and 17, had also been victims of rape.

Following his arrest in early July, investigating magistrates charged the suspect with multiple offenses, including incestuous rape of a minor by an ascendant and incestuous sexual assault. He is also under investigation for alleged acts of violence against his children.

Prosecutors said the children's mother has been placed under judicial supervision after being charged with failing to report alleged crimes. A judicial investigation has been opened to establish the full circumstances of the case.

During a search of the family home, investigators seized several firearms and bladed weapons. Authorities did not indicate whether the weapons were connected to the alleged offenses but confirmed they had been taken into police custody as part of the investigation.

The two younger daughters have been removed from the family home and placed under the protection of France's child welfare services while the investigation continues.

French judicial authorities emphasized that the proceedings remain ongoing. Under French law, a person placed under formal investigation is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a final court judgment.